The best fried chicken in Melbourne

This chicken bistro and bar is hands down the best spot for juicy and delicious fried chicken in Melbourne. The team have got it down to a fine art, soaking their chooks in buttermilk before frying them to an earth-shatteringly golden crisp. Feast on tenders, drumsticks, boneless thighs, wings or all of the above, along with an incredible range of condiments and American-style sides. The glammed-up menu may be a bit more bougie than what your average chicken shop joint offers, but there's no need to dress up for the occasion. This is a laidback vibe, perfect for chilled arvo sessions with friends and a feast you'll obsess about for weeks afterwards.

If we didn't include Leonard's on this list, we wouldn't be surprised to see pitchforks outside our doors. That's because there's no denying this South Yarra spot is cooking up some of the best fried chicken in Melbourne right now – and you've gotta taste it to believe it. Think signature seasoned popcorn chicken so hot and juicy it'll squirt at your neighbour when you bite into it, moreish chicken tenders, a classic chicken white bread sanga with pickles and Southern fried chicken burgs to boot. Do yourself a favour and drop in for a feed.

My partner's dined with me at some of Melbourne's most revered restaurants and still, to this day, raves about this tiny Korean fried chicken shop. The queue runs out the door, but the fried chicken is super chunky and textured, meaning more of your chosen sauce gets stuck in all those delicious grooves. Get the spiciest red sauce if you're game (it's more of a deep, stomach-tingling spice than a tongue-scorching sort), but a word of warning: if you opt for the full bento box, you might want to skip breakfast.

Fried chicken, or ayam goreng, has been a part of Indonesian cuisine for generations – but at Yoi, the dish gets a modern twist with the addition of salted egg sauce and a fried egg served on a steaming bed of rice. For something more traditional, there’s also ayam geprek, made from chicken that’s smashed, deep-fried and smothered in sambal.

If you like your fried chicken dripping in sauce with a frosty longneck to wash it all down, Gami Chicken and Beer's your go-to. Since it first opened back in 2006 in Carnegie, Gami has sprouted up in multiple locations around the city, serving up its signature Korean fried chicken, which is customisable with an array of spicy, salty, sweet and cheesy toppings. Yum!

This Taiwanese street food sensation serves up mammoth chicken cutlets that are, quite literally, bigger than your face. Each piece is marinated for a full 24 hours in a closely guarded blend of spices, then dredged in tapioca flour for extra crispiness. Then it's deep-fried in cottonseed oil, resulting in a golden-brown exterior that gives way to juicy, flavourful meat inside. It also comes in several flavour options, including cheese, spicy, seaweed, salt and pepper, chicken salt, cajun, and even plum.

After takeovers at Huxtaburger and Bluebonnet BBQ, Sonny's is now set up with a permanent kitchen inside the Curtin. The team here brine the chicken for 24 hours, and you can order it by dark or white meat, drum'n'thigh, a half portion or whole bird. Add in hot (mac and cheese, corn on the cob, beans, potatoes and gravy or deep fried pickles) or cold (Memphis slaw, potato salad or lentils) sides and you've got a fried chicken party ready to dig into. 

Belle’s is one of Melbourne’s OG Southern fried chicken joints, serving up its classic range of choose-your-heat chook and drool-worthy sides since 2014. When it comes to spice, Belle's doesn't mess around. The "really fuckin’ hot" chicken will 100 per cent set your tongue on fire. Good thing this joint’s got a range of natural wines to cool ya down.

This world-famous ramen joint might be known for its steaming hot bowls of tonkotsu noodle soup, but serious fried chicken lovers shouldn't overlook the karaage. Here, you can get three crisp golden morsels of the juicy bird and they come coated in Hakata Gensuke's mouth-popping secret spiced pepper.

NeNe is one of Korea’s largest fried chicken chains – some call it the country’s equivalent to KFC. The name translates to ‘Yes!Yes!’ which is what you’ll be screaming after a taste of its wingettes and drumettes. Choose from flavours like garlic, snowing cheese and even mala, a numbing spice made from Sichuan peppercorns.

Butcher's Diner is one late-night hot spot that needs no introduction. From this purveyor of all things meaty and marvellous, it's no surprise you can also find a decent fried chicken feed. Pop in on a Wednesday to take advantage of the daily special – a succulent crispy buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with pickle and ranch dressing – or head in at any time to try the Japanese fried chicken with daikon pickle.

From the man who gave us cult foodie icons Beatbox Kitchen, Taco Truck and All Day Donuts, Raph Rashid's Juanita Peaches is a go-to spot for crispy fried chicken. Though the fried chicken burger is a sure winner, we also recommend the super-saucy buffalo chicken ribs, but be warned – you’re going to need napkins.

If the words 'sushi' and 'taco' being in the same sentence didn't tip you off, Mr Miyagi is not your typical Japanese restaurant. In fact, it's not really typical anything. The now-institution hits somewhere between a bar and a restaurant – and similarly, ends up equal parts casual and fancy. The end product is just one thing: fun. The MFC (Miyagi Fried Chicken) is an obvious crowd-pleaser, served with mayo and the restaurant's secret seasoning.